Enhancing effect of poly(amino acid)s on albumin uptake in human lung epithelial A549 cells.

The clearance of albumin from the alveolar space is a critical process in the recovery from edema. In this study, we investigated the effect of poly(amino acid)s such as poly-l-ornithine (PLO) on albumin uptake in the cultured lung epithelial cell line A549. FITC-albumin uptake as well as cell surface binding was markedly stimulated by co-incubation with PLO, and there was a good correlation between them. After being taken up by A549 cells, FITC-albumin was predominantly targeted to lysosomes. Interestingly, pretreatment of A549 cells with PLO further stimulated FITC-albumin uptake, even in the absence of PLO in the uptake buffer. FITC-albumin uptake in the presence of PLO was inhibited by a metabolic inhibitor, clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitors, and a macropinocytosis inhibitor, indicating the involvement of clathrin-mediated endocytosis and/or macropinocytosis. The effect of PLO on FITC-albumin clearance was also examined in an in vivo pulmonary administration method in rats, and co-administration of PLO enhanced fluorescence elimination from the lungs. These findings suggest that pulmonary administration of poly(amino acid)s such as PLO is a possible strategy for enhancing albumin clearance from the alveolar space, and thereby facilitating the recovery from pulmonary edema.

Endocytic uptake of FITC-albumin by human alveolar epithelial cell line A549.

The uptake mechanism of FITC-labeled albumin (FITC-albumin) was examined in human alveolar epithelial cell line A549. FITC-albumin uptake by A549 cells was time- and temperature-dependent, and was markedly suppressed at 4°C compared with that at 37°C. The uptake was saturable, and was mediated by a high-affinity, low-capacity system and by a low-affinity, high-capacity system. In the following experiments, we focused on the low-affinity system. FITC-albumin uptake was markedly inhibited by metabolic inhibitors and by a vacuolar H⁺-ATPase, bafilomycin A1. The uptake was inhibited by clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitors (phenylarsine oxide and chlorpromazine). Potassium depletion and hypertonicity that inhibit clathrin-mediated endocytosis also decreased FITC-albumin uptake. On the other hand, caveolae-mediated endocytosis inhibitors (indomethacin and nystatin) did not affect FITC-albumin uptake. In addition, FITC-albumin uptake was inhibited by macropinocytosis inhibitors such as 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride. These results suggest that the low-affinity system of FITC-albumin uptake is mediated by endocytosis in A549 cells, predominantly via a clathrin-mediated pathway. Macropinocytosis, but not caveolae-mediated endocytosis, may also be involved. Considering our previous findings, albumin may be transported by a similar mechanism and/or pathway in rat and human alveolar epithelial cells.